Tactile Feedback Button for Hazard Detector Alarm Silencing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hazard detectors often have loud and piercing alarms that can be disruptive, and lack intuitive silence mechanisms, making it difficult for users to address non-emergency situations without enduring unnecessary noise.
Innovation Solution
The development of smart hazard detectors with tactile feedback buttons and Fresnel lens members that provide a uniform click feel and serve as both a pressable button and a lens for passive infrared sensors, allowing for silent alarm deactivation through gesture recognition or voice commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hush button is provided on the hazard detector to silence the alarm, then the alarm can be temporarily silenced for non-emergency situations, but the loud and piercing alarm sound creates noise disturbance that users must endure even when silencing is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the button structure from the main housing body and integrates it into the lens cover assembly. The button is formed as a separate component that can be pressed through the lens cover, allowing users to silence the alarm without exposing themselves to the loud alarm sound, as the button is located on the outer surface of the lens cover rather than inside the housing where the alarm sound is generated.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cover acts as an intermediary element between the user and the alarm system. By placing the button on the lens cover, the user can interact with the silencing function through this intermediate structure, which physically separates the user's finger from the internal alarm components and reduces noise exposure during the silencing operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are integrated into the hazard detector housing, then the device functionality is enhanced, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cover is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects the internal optical components, provides a mounting surface for the button, and acts as part of the housing structure. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining enhanced device functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the button structure with the lens cover assembly, eliminating the need for separate button housings or mounting structures. The button is integrated directly into the lens cover, and the lens cover itself is integrated into the main housing, creating a streamlined structure that reduces part count and manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the button is positioned on the housing surface, then it is easily accessible to users, but it may interfere with the uniform appearance and aerodynamic flow of the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The button is positioned at a specific location on the lens cover where it is easily accessible to users (typically the front or side surface), while the rest of the housing maintains its uniform appearance. The button's placement is optimized for user interaction without compromising the overall aesthetic design of the housing, as it is integrated into the lens cover rather than being a protruding element on the main housing body.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables users to silently address non-emergency situations while maintaining effective alarm functionality, reducing noise disturbance and enhancing user interaction with the device.
Implementation Method 1
Fresnel lens members that provide a uniform click feel and serve as both a pressable button and a lens for passive infrared sensors
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a casing of a hazard detector includes a body portion and a button portion. The button portion is coupled with the body portion via a plurality of arms. The arms allow the button portion to be axially movable relative to the body portion and also couple the button portion with the body portion so that tabs that extend radially outward from the button portion are positioned under and contact an inwardly facing surface of the body portion. The arms bias the button portion axially outward relative to the body portion so as maintain contact between the tabs and the inwardly facing surface. In this configuration, when the button portion is pressed at a position off-axis from a central axis of the button portion, the button portion pivots about one or more contact points between one or more tabs and the inwardly facing surface.